Ang Suga Publication

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞: Para sa katawhan, dili sa kwartahan!

To formalize the call for inclusive development, Save Carbon Public Market Movement (SCPMM) launched a public affirmation today, June 27, at the Cebu Business Hotel.

Representatives from different sectors gathered to express their support for maintaining the Carbon Public Market as a public space.

Advocate Orlando Carvajal spearheaded the forum, discussing the reasons behind the movement's establishment.

Moreover, Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA) President Maria Pino addressed the concerns amid the "redevelopment" of the Carbon market.

Furthermore, theater artist Iris Fernandez emphasized the bazaar's identity, citing the "hangyo" tradition and the "mangarbon ta" expression as enduring symbols of Cebuano culture.

Thereafter, participants from the church and civil society delivered solidarity messages.

The appointment of the lead conveners and the signing of the unity declaration marked the conclusion of the event.

In an interview with Ang Suga, Pino encouraged the youth sector to explore the Carbon market and engage with the defenders.

"Ako lang awhag sa mga kabatan-onan nga [unta sila] mag-duki, mag-observe, and at the same try to become one of them," she stated.

With the movement now formally launched, its conveners hoped that more Cebuanos would recognize Carbon Public Market not only as a marketplace but also as part of Cebu's history and identity. §

Words by Jana Javier
Photos by Josiah Duca

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵.

In its defiance, certainty unravels itself from makeshift chambers colored in different shades. Perhaps it has grown weary of holding the sky, or maybe it has dared to confront the whispers that have turned into taunts. There is, after all, a ferocity that exists to override the tints of monotones.

These stories no longer need to remain hushed secrets, nor do they need to tiptoe around creaks that summon the crowd's stare.

What's been buried craves to be seen, understood, and felt. Such unspoken realities etch a history of encounters that long to be coated in vibrant pigments.

And so, when the march brings tears to shed, be it because of an embrace that feared judgment for centuries. Live Out Loud Part Two shares these experiences that spoke of coaxed expectations, revealed identities, and courageous persistence.

These confessions from the unnamed prove that acceptance can bloom amid the chaos, for it is first found within oneself. §

Words by Christina Almaiz
Layout by Maika Marie Oftana

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝟰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱?

Some leave footprints. Others leave legacies.

For 124 years, Cebu Normal University (CNU) has carried generations of dreams through its corridors, bearing witness to countless beginnings, quiet triumphs, and lives transformed by learning and service. Its story is written not only in dates and milestones, but in every Normalite who dared to aspire, every educator who chose to serve, and every community shaped by the values the institution continues to uphold.

As CNU celebrates its 124th Founding Anniversary today, June 27, it honors a legacy built across time and carried forward by those who continue to wear crimson and gold with pride. More than a testament to the years it has endured, it stands as a reminder that excellence is not merely inherited, but continuously shaped by each generation that calls it home.

As one chapter gives way to another, the legacy of CNU lives on through the minds it nurtures, the lives it transforms, and the future it continues to inspire.

CNU, we will continue to hail your name with pride. §

Words by Roselle Elaine Arnoco
Layout by Lloyd Infortuna

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: Q***r, clear, and here!

Thousands of LGBTQIA+ individuals and progressive organizations erupt in a sea of rainbows for the 1st Cebu Grand Pride Parade at the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds today, June 27. §

Words by Keitley Villarta
Photos by Veness Abigail Tagac

The Senate on Trial
by Bea Manlangit

The Senate was built to ask difficult questions. Today, the difficult questions are being asked about the Senate itself. And perhaps the hardest question is not whether the Senate can answer them, but why so many Filipinos feel the need to ask them in the first place.

For decades, the Senate has been one of the country’s most recognizable democratic institutions. It has investigated controversies, questioned government actions, and demanded accountability from public officials. In many ways, it was designed to be a watchdog, a body that speaks truth to power and represents the interests of the people.

But recently, the focus has changed.

Instead of asking the questions, the Senate now finds itself answering them.

As political controversies dominate public discourse, many Filipinos are starting to look beyond the headlines and ask a bigger question: Can the Senate still be trusted to act fairly? Can it still be seen as an institution that serves the public above politics?

These questions matter because democracy runs on more than laws and elections. It runs on trust—the quiet agreement between citizens and institutions that power will be exercised with integrity even when nobody is watching.

People do not believe in institutions simply because they exist. They believe in them because they see them as fair, credible, and worthy of confidence. The Senate may continue to perform its duties, conduct hearings, and pass legislation, but public trust cannot be written into law. It has to be earned. And more importantly, it has to be protected.

That is why the issue today goes beyond any single politician, party, or political color. What is being tested is not just a decision or a controversy but the Senate’s credibility itself.

The Senate occupies a unique place in Philippine democracy. It is expected to rise above personal interests and political rivalries. Citizens may disagree with its decisions, criticize its actions, or challenge its conclusions, which is normal in any democracy. What is not normal is when people begin to question whether the institution itself is still acting independently.

Public conversations have increasingly shifted from what the Senate is doing to why people think it is doing it. Recent Senate proceedings, investigations, and political conflicts have brought the institution into public scrutiny, with many Filipinos questioning whether it is still guided by impartiality or is increasingly influenced by political interests.

Regardless of where one stands on these issues, the effect is difficult to ignore. The conversation has moved beyond the controversies themselves and toward the credibility of the institution handling them.

That alone should be a warning to the Senate.

Because institutions rarely collapse the moment they lose trust. They erode slowly, one unanswered doubt at a time.

When citizens begin questioning whose interests an institution truly serves, rebuilding confidence becomes far more difficult than maintaining it in the first place.

Whether these perceptions are accurate or not, they shape public trust. And trust is a fragile thing. It is built little by little, through years of consistency, fairness, and accountability. Yet it only takes a few moments of doubt for people to question whether the institution they once believed in has been what it claimed to be all along.

And once that skepticism settles in, every action becomes harder to defend, every decision becomes harder to explain, and every controversy leaves a deeper mark.

And when trust begins to erode, the consequences are felt far beyond the halls of government. Citizens become more cynical. Participation declines. Confidence in democratic processes weakens. Instead of seeing institutions as protectors of the public interest, people begin to see them as players in the same political game they are supposed to regulate.

That is the real issue facing the Senate today.

Whether fair or not, the growing skepticism surrounding the institution suggests that its impartiality is no longer accepted without question. For a democratic body that depends on public confidence, that may be the most serious warning of all.

The challenge is not simply proving that it has the power to act. The Constitution already grants that power. The challenge is proving that it remains worthy of the public's confidence.

Because in the end, a democratic institution is only as strong as the trust people place in it.

The Senate was built to ask difficult questions. Today, it faces perhaps its most difficult question yet: if the people begin to lose faith in the institution meant to hold others accountable, whom will they trust to hold the system accountable? §

Illustration by Frances Loraine Briones

is Ang Suga's column segment which publishes opinion articles written by its staff or contributed by the students, teachers, and non-teaching faculty of Cebu Normal University (CNU). You may send your work or ask questions via private message on our page.

STG Caravan shapes future leaders

Cebu Normal University's (CNU) Bachelor of Public Administration Students' Organization (BaPASO) huddled young leaders for the Students Transforming Governance (STG) Philippines Caravan at the Idea and Knowledge Center (IKC) today.

In partnership with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) - College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG), the initiative steered on the theme "Pagtukod: Building the Future through Youth Leadership, Governance, and Service."

In his opening remarks, CNU President Dr. Laurence Garcia stressed the relevance of the PLV's motto to integrity in leadership and good governance.

"Good education is good governance...its highest purpose is [to realize] when learning is transformed into service, when knowledge becomes action, and leadership becomes a force for the common good," he stated.

STG Philippines Co-Convenor and PLV-CPAG College Secretary Mr. Lui Joshua Cuadra led the first session on youth leadership and civic engagement.

Thereafter, STG Philippines Lead Convenor and PLV-CPAG Dean Dr. Michville Rivera conducted the second session on people-centered services, drawing insights from the Valenzuela City experience and emphasizing the need for positive motivation.

"We need to find mentors, we need to find life coaches, and [lastly] we need to find inspiration," he relayed.

Moreover, BaPASO Adviser Dr. Roselle Jardin thanked the resource speakers, organizers, and participants for making the program possible and for contributing to timely discussions.

"This collaboration proves that no matter the physical distance between Luzon and the Visayas, our shared commitment to nation-building binds us tightly together," she conveyed.

The event also featured the activities "Green Flag or Red Flag" and "Build Your Ideal Leader" to enrich the workshop experience.

In an interview with Ang Suga, Talisay City College's (TCC) Supreme Student Council (SSC) president aspirant Leny Jane Sabordo expressed that the sessions helped "open her mind" to a deeper understanding of her responsibilities and hoped for more opportunities like the caravan in the future.

"Education is really an impactful way [in which] we can reach the community...[This initiative] can really help colleges like [TCC], it would be nice if naa pa ta'y ingani na mga activities that we may be able to help one another, and we may be able to share the best practices that we have," she said.

STG Philippines Caravan is a flagship program of PLV-CPAG dedicated to championing genuine civic empowerment, active leadership, and good governance among Filipino students. §

Words by Christina Almaiz
Photos by Veness Abigail Tagac

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞: No colors left behind!

Adorned with rainbow pride, Cebu Normal University (CNU) congregated Normalites in the campus today, June 25, in its first-ever Gugmahan sa CNU 2026.

With the theme, “Transforming Governance through Equity and Inclusion,” the event promoted inclusiveness for everyone, especially the Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Q***r, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic (LGBTQIA+) community.

The program started with a forum on S*xual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and S*x Characteristics (SOGIESC) 101 and inclusive student leadership.

Following the talks, participants joined the campus pride march at the opening of the Normalite Pride Festival.

Furthermore, CNU drag queens filled the stage on fire with drag performances, emphasizing creative self-expression.

In an interview with Ang Suga, drag queen Dina Verr Jane shared the importance of love as the forefront of everything else.

"Because when we love each other as a community, we protect each other, and we are there for each other. I think that's what ‘gugma’ in ‘gugmaan’ means to me,” she pointed out.

Beyond celebrating the 124 years of legacy, the anniversary showcased the values that continue to unite Normalites, proving that at the heart of the university is a community bound by love. §

Words by Bea Manlangit
Photos by Veness Abigail Tagac, Josiah Duca, and Jan Marnie Manguilimotan

𝗜𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗲, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

For all its power to shape perceptions and spark understanding, the media has not always given LGBTQIA+ stories the space they deserve. Q***r films continue to exist, yet many remain hidden behind the brighter spotlight cast on heteronormative narratives.

While q***r representation in Philippine media has grown over the years, the canvas is still unfinished, with many stories waiting to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Before the month ends, Ang Suga invites you to follow the colors of a day. Begin with the soft pastels of dawn, wander through the bold brilliance of daylight, linger in the dim glow of dusk, and settle into the deep indigos of darkness. Each phase carries a different mood and a different way of loving, longing, becoming, and belonging.

So, wherever you find yourself in the spectrum, let these four q***r films be your companions. §

Words by Angel Formentera
Layout by Jullien Bea Radomes

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: Bound by love!

As part of its 124th founding anniversary celebrations, Cebu Normal University (CNU) brings Normalites to the campus today for Gugmahan sa CNU to foster connection and inclusivity, especially towards LGBTQIA+ individuals. §

Words by Bea Manlangit
Photos by Josiah Duca

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: Cultivating young minds!

Cebu Normal University’s (CNU) Bachelor of Public Administration Students' Organization (BaPASO) mobilizes student leaders for the Students Transforming Governance (STG) Philippines Caravan at the Idea and Knowledge Center (IKC) this morning, June 25. §

Words by Christina Almaiz
Photos by Veness Abigail Tagac